Band of the Week: Memphis

[June 9-15]
Memphis
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Stars, Metric, Immaculate Machine
Synopsis: American twang from a Canadian duo.
Makes You Want To...: Go out drinking; Dance; Socialize
[Myspace]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Memphis.

Good ol' Memphis, Tennessee. Think about it for a minute. Memphis and music are synonymous. B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash... Countless wonderful musicians have left their mark on the the town.

But there's a new Memphis in town. Memphis, who ironically hail from Vancouver, Canada, is an indie-pop band that also has a lot of soul. You may recognize the lead singer, Torquil Campbell, from Montreal based Stars. This would be his delightful side project, along with long-time friend Chris Dumont. These to whip up some sweet tunes about romance, inebriation, any combination of the two, along with everything thing else in between.

Memphis' style is quirky and unique, right up the alley of the Canadian indie rock scene that so many have come to love. It's clear that Campbell's experience with Stars has rubbed off on Memphis. But Memphis form their own noteworthy style to call their own, weaving complex and intensively layered songs together with heartfelt lyrics, or simply just breaking it down with songs that are almost danceable.

Word from the Memphis camp has been quiet as of late though. This is no doubt due to the busy nature of Torquil Campbell as Stars run around on their ever-so busy summer tour with the likes of the Broken Social Scene. But Memphis still has plenty to offer, with their debut I Dreamed We Fell Apart, as well as their latest release, A Little Place In The Wilderness, which is beyond excellent. And of course Memphis has a Myspace, where you'll no doubt find me today, listening incessantly to "Incredibly Drunk on Whiskey." To all thee readers, have a good week!